Player News

Free-agent QB Eric Crouch (CFL) signed with the UFL's Omaha Nighthawks Tuesday, July 12. The former Heisman Trophy winner at Nebraska is expected to compete with QBs D.J. Shockley and Jeremiah Masoli for the starting QB job. He hasn't played professional football since an appearance with the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL in 2006.

The UFL's Omaha Nighthawks have reached out to free-agent QB Eric Crouch (Chiefs), but he is not interested in returning to playing, reports the Omaha World-Herald's Jon Nyatawa. Crouch said, "I'd love to play, but I've been done for a couple years. I'm pretty happy with not having anymore (surgeries). I've had eight operations, you know. But that doesn't mean I wouldn't stay involved."

The Canadian Press reports the CFL's Toronto Argonauts have announced they have signed former NFL QB Eric Crouch, who is expected to be the backup to QB Damon Allen. Crouch has spent parts of the past four seasons with the Green Bay Packers, St. Louis Rams and Kansas City Chiefs. He most recently played with the Hamburg Sea Devils of NFL Europe as a safety.

Perry Lefko, of the Toronto Sun, reports the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL have signed former NFL QB Eric Crouch to a contract. A formal announcement is expected Friday, Feb. 10. It's believed the deal will be at least two years and a club option for a third year. Speculation is he'll receive $80,000 in a base salary this season, but the deal has various incentives to drive the total package well beyond $100,000. If elevated to the full-time starter, he would likely be looking at an annual salary of at least $250,000-$300,000.

Updating previous reports, the Associated Press reports former NFL CB/S Eric Crouch is currently in contract talks with the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL. Greg Mohns, the Argonauts' assistant general manager and player personnel director, said it was apparent in a workout Wednesday, Feb. 8, that Crouch is in top physical condition and serious about making a comeback.

The Toronto Sun reports the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL may check out free agent QB Eric Crouch (Chiefs) in the near future. Argonauts player personnel director Greg Mohns said the team plans to work out Crouch.

Brian Christopherson, of the Lincoln Journal Star, reports free agent S Eric Crouch (Chiefs) said he still wants to play football. He was recently released by the Kansas City Chiefs. "I wasn't surprised by it at all," Crouch said. "I had a good feeling that was going to happen, a good bad feeling if you know what I mean. (The Chiefs) needed someone to step in right away and play for them. I don't blame them. It's a business." Crouch has to overcome the fact he walked away from the St. Louis Rams, five months after he was drafted in the third round to play wide receiver. He said he did not want to play wide receiver. "It's hard to believe with the college career I had that it's that tough to get a look," Crouch said. "But I haven't really even scuffed the surface of a pro career at all. To me, I still feel like I have a lot of football left in me." Crouch said he's in the best shape of his life.

The Sports Network reports the Kansas City Chiefs have signed DB Eric Crouch. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Crouch, who won the Heisman Trophy as a quarterback at Nebraska, no longer has a desire to play quarterback and is committed to playing defense.

Updating previous reports, Tom Silverstein, of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, reports the Green Bay Packers have reinstated QB Eric Crouch from the reserve/retired list. Crouch, however, said he plans to come back as a defensive back. He has already tried to make it in the NFL as a quarterback and a wide receiver.

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports a Green Bay Packers team source indicated the team would be interested in giving retired QB Eric Crouch a shot at playing safety. Crouch has twice retired from the league already due to his desire to play quarterback rather than another position.

Updating previous reports, Rob Demovsky, of PackersNews.com, reports former Green Bay Packers QB Eric Crouch is likely done with the NFL for good this time. Crouch said his three-month stint with the Packers likely was the last time he'll ever put on football pads. "I've learned never to say never, but in another sense I'm excited about pursuing a career in other things," Crouch told the Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald on Wednesday, July 23. Though the Packers gave no indication of it, Crouch told the World-Herald that coach Mike Sherman told him that he would be released if he stayed at quarterback. He said Sherman gave him the option of changing positions, but he said he wasn't interested in playing anything but quarterback.

Arnie Stapleton, of the Arizona Republic, reports Green Bay Packers KR Eric Crouch has quit the team. This is the second time in 11 months Crouch has quit his NFL career. Crouch spoke with head coach Mike Sherman of his decision. "We really didn't get into detail," Sherman said. "He just said for personal reasons he didn't want to continue. I said OK and we'll leave it at that."

Updating previous reports, Len Pasquarelli for ESPN.com reports Green Bay Packers QB Eric Crouch might be listed as a quarterback on the team's depth chart, but if he wants to make the roster, he will have to show he can give the Packers something other than his ability to throw the football. Because of the team's dedication to splitting snaps in training camp among three other backup QBs, Crouch's chances of making the team might be more of a longshot now than it was when he was with the St. Louis Rams last season.

The Journal-Sentinel reports Green Bay Packers QB Eric Crouch may need to show some promise on special teams as a return man in the team’s upcoming minicamp if he wants to improve his chances of making the Packers’ roster this year. While he threw the ball well at recent minicamps, it appears that he remains a long-shot to make the team’s roster as their No. 3 QB. Crouch never returned kickoffs or punts while at Nebraska.

PackersNews.com reports Green Bay Packers QB Eric Crouch showed off nice arm strength during the teamís minicamp, but his workouts also showed heís going to need time to develop at the position. He threw his fair share of interceptions during the workouts and appeared to be indecisive at times while he was trying to learn the new offense.

Updating previous reports, PackersNews.com reports the Green Bay Packers must pay QB Eric Crouch $300,000 in salary this year and $380,000 next year if he is activated off the reserve/retired list and makes the team.

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports the Green Bay Packers are considering putting a waiver claim in for free agent QB/DB Eric Crouch (Rams). Crouch played quarterback in college but served primarily as a defensive back last year with the St. Louis Rams.

The Post Dispatch's Jim Thomas reports agent Jim Steiner said "retired" St. Louis Rams WR Eric Crouch remains interested only in playing quarterback. He will not return to the team to play wide receiver.

According to Len Pasquarelli of ESPN.com, if WR Eric Crouch wants to return to the NFL in 2003, after "retiring" last season, it most likely will have to be with the team that drafted him, the St. Louis Rams. Rams coach Mike Martz said Saturday the Rams would welcome Crouch back to camp, but added that there are no plans to relinquish his rights to another franchise, for now. "I wanted him to give it a year and see where he was with it. I mean, it wasn't going to happen overnight. But he was anxious about it and didn't want to stick with it. I still think he could be a good wide receiver in this league," said Martz.

Associated Press reports former St. Louis Rams WR Eric Crouch, a Heisman Trophy winning quarterback while at Nebraska, said heíd consider returning to the NFL if he can play quarterback. The Rams currently hold his rights if he chooses to return.

ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli reports St. Louis Rams WR Eric Crouch, the Heisman Trophy winner last year at Nebraska, has decided to retire. Crouch said he's retiring mostly because injuries have prevented him from playing at a level in which he's always been accustomed.

The Post Dispatch reports St. Louis Rams rookie WR Eric Crouch (thigh bruise) has returned to practice, but he's far from returing to the playing field. Coach Mike Martz said Crouch is "light years away from playing. He's trying to figure out where he stands in the huddle right now. He has no idea what we're doing. He's missed so much time and he was just beginning to learn the basics and we've gone way beyond the basics at this point."

According to Pete Prisco of SportsLine.comSt. Louis Rams rookie Eric Crouch is struggling with his transition to wide receiver. Also, he reportedly hasn't exactly endeared himself to his teammates with his attitude.

The Post Dispatch reports agent Jim Steiner, representing St. Louis Rams rookie WR Eric Crouch, said he is confident a contract agreement will be reached before training camp. "It will get done before camp. We have plenty of time," said Steiner.

The Post-Dispatch reports St. Louis Rams coach Mike Martz said rookie WR Eric Crouch is struggling some, but mostly because he missed the team's first mini-camp with a hamstring injury. "He's doing fine. Here's what is going to happen with a young receiver. They are learning where to line up and the route the run. They forget to run full speed and then the last thing they think about is catching the ball. He'll be all right. It's gong to take him some time. By the time we get out of camp, he'll have a pretty good idea what's going on."

The Post-Dispatch reports St. Louis Rams rookie WR Eric Crouch (hamstring) is not practicing full out at mini-camp, but he's watching and learning from the sidelines. "It's out of my control at this point," Crouch said Saturday. "I'm paying attention when I'm out on the field. That's where you learn the most." In an effort to keep up, Crouch has been spending some extra time with Rams wide receivers coach Henry Ellard. Once he does heal, doctors say it may take up to three weeks, Crouch figures to be busy.

Jim Thomas reports for the Post-Dispatch reports St. Louis Rams WR Eric Crouch, drafted in the third round Saturday to play wide receiver, is questionable for this weekend's mini-camp because of what coach Mike Martz called a slight hamstring injury. "I'm not sure he's going to do anything in this camp," Martz said. "Eric tweaked his hamstring two days ago. He was running pass routes for two hours (in Nebraska). And at the end of it, he just got fatigued and tweaked it a little bit."

The Post-Dispatch reports St. Louis Rams head coach Mike Martz said former Nebraska QB Eric Crouch, who was selected by the Rams in the third round, was a favorite of his during the draft. Martz believes Crouch can be a quality receiver for the team. Crouch will likely be eased into the lineup because he'll be trying to make the transition from quarterback to receiver. He said he's been doing everything he can to get better at the position.

Jim Thomas reports for the Post-Dispatch Nebraska QB Eric Crouch visited the St. Louis Rams Thursday and they spoke to him about playing WR for them. He would like a shot to play QB in the NFL, but most of all, he just wants to play. "He was the best running back on that team last season," said Arizona Cardinals RBs coach Johnny Roland. He may be too small to play RB in the NFL. "I think most clubs are looking at him as a wide receiver," said Crouch's agent, Jim Steiner. Crouch could play the Kordell Stewart "slash role." Crouch is faster and bigger than another player the Rams are considering for such a "slash" role, Indiana QB Antwaan Randle El.

Nebraska QB Eric Crouch said in his Fox Sports Draft diary he visited with the Kansas City Chiefs last weekend. He said they looked at him as a QB and a WR. Offensive coordinator Al Saunders told Crouch there was not a guy in Kansas City at his position, a utility guy to play quarterback or wide receiver.